Bill Text: NJ AJR35 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Designates May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-02-24 - Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [AJR35 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-AJR35-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 35

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  BENJIE E. WIMBERLY

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman  VINCENT PRIETO

District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)

Assemblyman  CARMELO G. GARCIA

District 33 (Hudson)

Assemblywoman  VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE

District 37 (Bergen)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Caputo, Coughlin and Assemblywoman Jimenez

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Designates May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee on June 5, 2014, with amendments.

  

A Joint Resolution designating May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey.

 

Whereas, Nearly a quarter of the State's middle school students and ¹nearly¹ one half of its high school students have used cigarettes or other tobacco products at least once; and

Whereas, Adolescents who smoke are at risk of more frequent respiratory problems and are generally less healthy than their peers who do not smoke; and

Whereas, Research has shown smoking to have long-term deleterious effects on the health of individuals; smoking related diseases include¹:¹ lung, mouth, kidney, and other cancers; heart disease and stroke; and respiratory problems such as chronic obstructive lung ¹[disorder] disorders¹; and

Whereas, There is a significant human cost resulting from the use of tobacco products; an estimated ¹[443,000] 480,000¹ people die ¹in the United States¹ each year as a result of diseases associated with smoking, and an additional ¹[8.6] 16¹ million people live with ¹[serious]¹ smoking¹-¹related illnesses; in New Jersey smoking claims more than 11,000 lives each year; and

Whereas, There are also considerable financial costs from lost productivity and medical expenses that result from smoking; nationally, the estimated cost is nearly ¹[$200] $300¹ billion per year and in New Jersey, ¹[$4.7] $2.6¹ billion; and

Whereas, Because nearly all smokers begin smoking before age ¹[21] 18¹, middle and high school years may be a particularly important time to address smoking prevention and cessation; and

Whereas, The State currently supports ¹[other youth smoking prevention initiatives such as a school-based program for middle and high school students; and]¹ measures to educate vendors about, and to enforce laws regarding, restrictions on the sale of tobacco products to minors; and

Whereas, Because first-time experimentation with tobacco products most often occurs during the summer months, it is appropriate to designate the month of May as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month¹[,]¹" to promote awareness of the dangers and costs of smoking; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The month of May of each year is designated as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey in order to increase public awareness about the dangers of smoking among youth and to encourage efforts supporting smoking prevention and cessation among middle and high school students.

 

     2.    The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation designating May as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey and calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.

 

     3.    This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.